Same Sex Marriage Essay

The first idea that springs to mind whenever I see a couple of the same gender walking, eating and living together in one roof would be the idea of same sex relationship. To make the preposition clear, establishment of the terminology is of primary importance. As defined, same-sex marriage also called gay marriage is a legally or socially recognized marriage between two persons of their biological sex or social gender.

Since 2001, ten countries and various other jurisdictions have begun legally formalizing same-sex marriages, and the recognition of such marriages is a civil rights, political, social, moral, and religious issue in many nations. The conflicts arise over whether same-sex couples should be allowed to enter into marriage, be required to use a different status such as a civil union, which either grant equal rights as marriage or limited rights in comparison to marriage, or not have any such rights.

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In my country where the presence of homosexuals and bisexuals are rampant, it is not an ordinary scenario to see a couple of the same biological gender to show their affection to public or somewhat be open about it. However, Philippines is the only Christian dominant country in Asia and it is third in the World. Filipinos valued marriage a lot and respect its meaning and its purpose in the cycle of life. Furthermore, Filipinos are applying in their culture the Christian virtues and that includes marriage. Yet if I may say, marriage only for the opposite sex which is a marriage between a biological male and biological female.

To put it in a context, Same-sex marriage is a term they use for a legally or socially recognized marriage between two individuals of the same sex. If we will try to trace when this phenomenon first started, and why other countries have legalized it for some reasons, it is very evident that it started from the west wherein the power of liberty, independence and egalitarianism or sharing equal rights is being observed. While state-sanctioned same-sex marriage is a relatively latest phenomenon in world today, same-sex relationship has been documented throughout time.

According to an author’s note, the first country to legalize same-sex marriage was the Netherlands and that was in 2001. Since then, many countries have followed the suit. The concerns of same-sex marriage regard it as a human right to have the benefits of marriage regardless of sexual orientation, which I could say it is an act that tries to destroy the essence of traditional or real marriage. Even majority of the people in these world are focusing to their civil rights many are still who opposed, often do so for religious or scriptural reasons, defining marriage as the union between a man and a woman only.

Looking on the international view, the first same-sex union in modern history with government recognition was started in Denmark in 1989. According to a survey, civil unions, civil partnership, domestic partnership, unregistered partnership unregistered co-habitation or registered partnerships offer varying amounts of the benefits of marriage and are available in: Andorra, Australia, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Uruguay.

They are also available in some parts of Argentina, Brazil, Mexico (Federal District and Coahuila), the U. S. states of California, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia. If we try to figure it out, once it started in one country almost 20 percent of the world is trying to engage same sex marriage. Majority of these countries are focusing on civil rights of the couple, such as in England for example that they have laws pertaining to relationship status in the society and all. These things are their programs to maintain the good relationship of the couple.

Based on these facts I believe that it is not a guarantee at all that having a strong legal programs can keep a relationship if both of you are having the same sex. For one, a strong bond of the family is also influenced by raising a child or having biological child which may also be a potential barrier for same sex marriage. For a conservative individual like me which does not necessarily mean resistant to change, I do still value the essence of a true marriage and in some sense the value of a traditional marriage wherein the couple Is expected to be of the opposite sex.

For some reasons, I was raised in a conservative and a religious country wherein Christian belief is of primary importance. If you try to study carefully the definition of same sex marriage, it only focus to the Civil concerns of the same-sex couples and have not even tackle on the family, which is really an important aspect of a society, religion, culture and moral concerns. These excluded concerns are the factors that should be given importance in marriage. I strongly believe that it is the pillar for making a good and healthy marriage.

Relying on civil rights of individuals could not defend a married life of the couple, try to think of a couple with same sex, can they last as married couple for 5 years without cheating each other? How can they make their union into family, they could not even raise a child. My stand about same sex marriage does not imply that I have something about these couples of the same biological gender may it be same female or same male. It has something to do with morality, dignity and integrity which I believe to be an integral part of a man’s life.

Furthermore, some religious leaders say allowing same sex marriages will give a stamp of approval to a behavior that they believe is immoral. Some opponents of gay marriage fear that by allowing same-sex couples to marry, it will lessen the validity of heterosexual marriage. They say marriage is union with the purpose of creating and raising children. They argue that children fare better in household headed by a man and a woman. In addition to that, opponents disagree with equating gay rights with the fight for racial equality.

They say that homosexuality is not an inborn trait, but a chosen behavior that does not deserve special protection under the law, which I believe is true. In conclusion, the arguments having same sex marriage in a particular society is really influenced with religious and moral belief versus practicality and egalitarianism or equality rights yet the bottom-line of all these would be just respect to others regardless of your stand and I believe that I all that matters in order to maintain peace and harmony in the society.